Tough Battalion overruns 67's

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BARRE CAMPBELL -- Ottawa Sun

Feb 5, 2005

, Last Updated: 12:03 PM ET

Battalion 5, 67's 1 IT SHOULD come as no surprise with the way things have been going this season, but you never know what you're going to get from the 67's.

Just when it looks like the team might have something going, as it did heading into last night's game against the Brampton Battalion with a three-game unbeaten streak, the 67's come out and give their fans another stinker.

Brampton didn't even need its leading scorer, Wojtek Wolski, who sat out after hurting a knee Thursday night in Peterborough.

Ottawa couldn't do much of anything, and the result was a 5-1 defeat in front of 9,596 spectators at the Civic Centre.

Just last weekend, the 67's put together an impressive three-game string in which they beat Belleville at home, then hit the road for a tie against the powerful Rangers in Kitchener and a 6-4 win in Brampton.

But any momentum the 67's hoped to bring into last night's contest was nowhere to be seen.

How bad was it?

"We aren't a good team," coach/GM Brian Kilrea said of the 67's (23-20-6-1). "We didn't do very much of anything. It's an attitude, and I think some guys are still trying to learn how to win."

The 67's had to rely on fourth-liner Pat Ouellette, in his first game back in over a month due to a bout with mono, for their only offensive highlight -- a goal by the rookie winger, his first in the OHL, on a Battalion giveaway in the second period to make it 3-1.

Ottawa came out flat, and their opponents took advantage, getting goals against 67's netminder Anthony Guadagnolo from Luch Aquino and Aaron Snow while short-handed before the end of the first period.

The 67's were outshot 9-2 through the first 10 minutes and rarely had good scoring chances against goalie Daren Machesney.

"They came out and worked harder to every puck," said Kilrea. "They got on the puck quicker and did a lot of things better than we did. They worked harder for loose pucks and every battle, they won."

Trailing by three after Brock McPherson scored while Will Colbert was in the box for high-sticking, the 67's gained a bit of hope on Ouellette's goal.

PULLED AWAY

But the Battalion (26-17-7-2) pulled away with a goal by rookie Luke Lynes later in the period, and another power-play marker in the third from Howie Martin.

In addition to Wolski, the Battalion was also missing three defencemen and dressed only five blueliners last night.

"They didn't come out with a lot of jump, and we expected them to come out with a lot more than they did," admitted Brampton coach Stan Butler. "I was really happy. I thought our guys did well. We got some goals from guys who don't normally score for us, which is always important."

Despite the loss, Ottawa kept pace with East Division-leading Peterborough after the Petes fell 7-5 to the Knights in London.

The 67's remain in second place, five points behind Peterborough, but are just two points ahead of Kingston, which beat Oshawa 6-0.

The 67's travel to Kingston for a game tomorrow against the Frontenacs and are in Peterborough on Thursday before returning home Friday to host Mississauga.